The Panthers Have the Number One Pick. Who Will They Select?
By: Will Horton
The Carolina Panthers traded up for the number one pick from the Chicago Bears on Friday. The importance of the quarterback position makes it a safe bet that the Panthers will select one at number one overall. The question then becomes, which one? Let’s take a look at the Panthers current roster and scheme to figure it out.
Scheme Fits
The Panthers hired Frank Reich to be their head coach and offensive play caller this offseason after he was fired by the Indianapolis Colts. Reich is a part of the infamous “Andy Reid coaching tree” having coached under Doug Pederson while in Philadelphia. As a result, Reich bases his playbook on the West Coast System originated by Bill Walsh. This system boils down to the phrase “touchdown or checkdown”. There is an emphasis on short throws that act as an extension of the running game. Everything is based on timing and requires a signal caller that can operate within the flow of an offense. This sets up deep shots later on in a game, requiring pinpoint accuracy at all levels of the field.
Getty Images/David Jensen
McCown Linked to Stroud
A video of Panthers quarterbacks coach Josh McCown scouting former Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud went viral following the trade. In the video, McCown offers effusive praise of Stroud, citing his accuracy and decision-making as immediately being “NFL caliber” which is exactly what this Panthers offensive system requires. The link to the video can be found here:
Potential Problems
While CJ Stroud is the heavy favorite to land at #1 (-330 on DraftKings Sportsbook as of Saturday) there are still question marks surrounding Stroud as a prospect and his potential fit with the team. Most notably, Stroud has been hesitant to operate out of structure and extend plays. With that being said, Stroud was excellent at creating these plays when it mattered versus Georgia in January. Whether teams view this performance as sustainable or a “flash in the pan” is a huge factor in determining Stroud’s value.
Given that the Panthers traded DJ Moore in order to get to the number one spot, the current receivers on the roster aren’t exactly ideal weapons to start a career with. Terrace Marshall Jr, Shi Smith, and Laviska Shenault would be Carolina's current starting receiving corps. Quarterbacking the Carolina Panthers may require a heavy dose of off-script quarterbacking in order to be successful in 2023, given that the receivers won’t be getting a ton of separation. If that is the case, Bryce Young would be the correct choice at number one overall.Young is a natural playmaker who excels in “backyard football” situations. While Stroud is likely the pick, Young is worth serious consideration at the very least.